Cheesy Mini Bagels with Apple, Onion & Bacon

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These Mini Bagels are topped with cheddar cheese, tart sliced apples, sweet caramelized onions, and everyone's favorite....BACON! They are the perfect little appetizers for holiday parties and potlucks. Plus, they are SUPER easy to make and approachable so you can focus your time on more important things (like napping and shopping)!

Mini food is just the best. These mini bagels are just perfect as an appetizer, or pop the top on to make a cheesy onion, apple and bacon slider. I mean really, it doesn't matter how you eat these. It just matters that you eat them.

The cheddar cheese complements the apples, sweet caramelized onions and salty bacon perfectly. All the flavors together are like an explosion of sweet and savory - it's just perfection guys.

**Cheesy appetizers are just the best - try this gooey Baked Brie with Cranberry Chutney for another holiday favorite!**

Ingredients

You can get mini bagels at almost any grocery store. If you can't find them, regular sized bagels will work too. Just cut them in half or in quarters and make bagel bites pieces.

I recommend using a tart apple like Granny Smith as the tart complements the sweet and savory flavors well. However, you can use any apple you prefer if you don't like tart apples.

I used a Kaukauna® Port Wine Cheese Ball (see below) as the cheese spread for these mini bagel bites. However, any of their cheese balls can be substituted depending on preference.

About Kaukauna® Brand 

I partnered with Kaukauna® brand in the creation of this recipe, specifically using the Port Wine Cheese Ball.

The Kaukauna®  brand is 100 years old this year, and to celebrate they have created an new recipe with no artificial anything - no artificial colors, preservatives or other ingredients. But the taste is still the same - still delicious! All products are created and produced in in Wisconsin.

Kaukauna® was started in 1918 by an Eastern European beer distributor in his hunt for the perfect spreadable cold-pack cheese. Once he figured it out, it became extremely popular, being served at picnics, sporting events, cocktail parties, etc. It's also great used in omelettes, soups and pasta!

Step By Step Instructions

Before you make the bagels, you need to caramelize the onions. This is the most time consuming part of the recipe, but still only takes 20 minutes and is SUPER easy.

How to Caramelize Onions

Add the onions and butter in a saucepan. Heat over medium low and stir periodically until onions are caramelized, about 20 minutes.

Slice and toast the mini bagels until they are lightly browned. Spread the cheese on each bagel half.

Add several slices of apple and place about 1-2 tbsp. of caramelized onions on top. Top with the crumbled bacon and serve.

This makes about 15 bites, but the recipe can be doubled or halved as needed. You can also make these sliders by adding the tops on to make a sandwich.

**Consider drizzling with honey for an added sweet treat. It complements the bacon well.

Can I Make These Ahead of Time?

I don't recommend making these ahead of time as they will become soggy. The caramelized onions can be made ahead of time for quick assembly.

Once made, store them in the fridge for up to 3 days. Warm them in the microwave before serving.

Did you make these mini bagel appetizers? Rate the recipe and leave a comment below to let me know how it turned out!

Recipe

Cheesy Mini Bagels with Apple, Onion & Bacon

These Mini Bagels are topped with cheddar cheese, tart sliced apples, sweet caramelized onions, and everyone's favorite....BACON!

5 from 6 votes

Print Rate

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 15 servings

Calories: 128kcal

Author: Danielle Wolter

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 Kaukauna® cheese ball (any kind will work great)
• ▢ 1 package mini bagels
• ▢ 1 apple, thinly sliced
• ▢ 2 medium onions, sliced thin
• ▢ 2 tbsp. unsalted butter
• ▢ 12 oz. bacon, cooked and crumbled

Instructions

• Add the onions and butter in a saucepan. Heat over medium low and stir periodically until onions are caramelized, about 20 minutes.
• Slice and toast the mini bagels until they are lightly browned. Spread the cheese on each bagel half. Add several slices of apple and place about 1-2 tbsp. of caramelized onions on top. Top with the crumbled bacon and serve.

Expert Tips:

1. Makes about 15 bites. Recipe can be doubled or halved as needed. 
2. You can also make these sliders by adding the tops on to make a sandwich.
3. Consider drizzling with honey for an added sweet treat. It complement the bacon well.
4. Once you've opened the package, the cheeseball will keep for about 10 days. 
5. I don't recommend making the bagel bites ahead of time as they will become soggy. The caramelized onions can be made ahead of time for quick assembly. Once made, store them in the fridge for up to 3 days. Warm them in the microwave before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5bagel | Calories: 128kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 166mg | Potassium: 82mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 65IU | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.2mg

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